Ecuador

I taught English for three months at Colegio Nacional San Pablo, near Otavalo Ecuador, working with the 900+ students and the Ecuadorian English teachers. It was the first time almost any of them had interacted with a native English speaker, and the experience was challenging and rewarding. I agree with the comments by Alissa [hi, Alissa!] about Mariana, the in-country coordinator -- she was always there and was very supportive and positive. Information from the Stateside staff was also prompt, accurate, and responsive. The teachers at the school were welcoming and enthusiastic, and the kids -- the kids! -- were terrific -- eager, open, funny, warm. My only less-than-enthusiastic comment is that twelve weeks is a long time to live with a family, as amiable as they may be, especially for an older (ahem) volunteer like me. Overall, a great experience, with an organization I warmly recommend.

I was in Quito, Ecuador for four months working in a public hospital in the department of social work. I absolutely loved my internship and the people that I met there were fantastic. Mariana, the on-site coordinator, helped me with anything and everything I asked her about. From helping me plan a Galapagos trip to donating food and clothing to patients of the hopsital, she was there for all of it. The staff in the US was very helpful as well, checking in with me to make sure that everything was going alright. My host family was excellent and they made me feel as if I was their daughter instead of an intern. Overall, I was extremely happy with the program. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of host families and placements considered that we paid a fraction of the other companies' prices. I would definitley recommend ELI for anyone looking for a good deal and a fanstastic opportunity!

What were your initial reactions when arriving on the project?
I was initially nervous but my fears were allayed when I met the other volunteers and saw how well structured the programme was.
The best thing for me was probably just getting to work with kids every day and see the difference I was making to their education in just 12 weeks.
I developed leadership skills on the Internship programme because I managed a small group of volunteers in the second stage. I also gained budgeting, negotiation and organisation skills through general running of the project and coordination with the local community. Apart from these professional skills, the teaching also helped me to be a more patient person! On a personal level I became more conscious of issues such as education and poverty in developing countries and I simply had great fun while there!
Too many great memories to mention: meeting parents at family day in Ecuador and doing three legged races, building stoves, school trips with the kids , setting my hair on fire when cooking at summer school, mountain biking down steep volcanoes, ziplining, trekking the Colca Canyon.
I have now decided to go back to university to do an MSc in International Development Management; this may well lead to a career change.
I would recommend GVI because the programmes are well-structured and organised, you receive a lot of support and you can develop the skills I mentioned above which could be really useful in a professional field. Equally, the personal sense of achievement you will feel is awesome, and the downtime trips away and activities are amazing.

I have recently returned from the Wildlife conservation and Community Development Expedition with GVI in the Ecuadorian Amazon and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life.
The whole trip was very well organised by GVI and as a new volunteer on the expedition you really have very little to worry about in terms of logistics. The filed staff were all very outgoing and made us feel welcome, on top of this they were extremely knowledgeable about the environment and their fields of expertise. The first night was spent in Tena, which is a jungle town about half way to camp. This acted as great ice breaker and allowed everyone to get to know each other over a meal and few cold beers (make the most of the last cold beers and the readily available meat, this wont be experienced again for a while). The journey from Quito through the Andes and down into the jungle is truly spectacular and was a great start to the trip.
Once we arrived at the camp’s port by canoe we made our way up the many steps to camp carrying all our equipment. This was a fantastic introduction to the jungle and needless to say we were all pretty sweaty when we finally slumped down on a bench in the commador (communal area). The base camp is situated in a small clearing surrounded by jungle and comprises the commador, toilet/shower block, dorms including staff cabin, classroom and library.
In the weeks that followed we all leaned a huge amount about the wildlife and the local communities and became very comfortable living in the jungle. Each day was spent trekking through the jungle collecting vital scientific data about the species living there and their habitats. Some of the things I saw and experienced in the jungle were truly amazing and will stick with me forever. I’ll finish by saying the Amazon is one of those places you have to visit in your lifetime and GVI were a fantastic company to do it with allowing you to fully experience the jungle.

I spent a month in Quito, Ecuador with an amazing host family and a supportive in country staff. ELI was amazing with answering any and all questions I had. I am surprised they didn't lose their patience with all the questions I had! I had an indescribably wonderful time and I am grateful for all of the support ELI gave me that allowed me to have such a great experience.

Choosing to travel abroad in the Galapagos Islands with ELI was easily one of the best choices I've ever made. Everyone was so supportive - I was never lost or unsure of what to do, as there was someone there with me every step of the way. My experience at the local primary school was also amazing. Although it was extremely difficult, my time there was very rewarding. The educational system in the Galapagos needs a lot of help - expect to use your Spanish a lot, because almost no one can speak English - so if you're really looking to make a difference this is the place to go. In addition to the time spent at the school, I also found time to go sightseeing around the island. Needless to say, this was another highlight of the trip, as the flora and fauna is virtually untouched by human influence around certain areas. If you are hoping to volunteer abroad in Ecuador, I would highly recommend the ELI program in the Galapagos.

The Ecuador coordinator, Mariana Lara, is the most kind, hard-working, and welcoming woman I have met! She made the transition into a foreign country easy and secure. Mariana hosted my sister and I after the completion of my internship, she arranged all the details and fought for my position, and made me feel at home.
The experience working for the Galapagos National Park is something I could never get any other way. I worked with wonderful and passionate people in one of the most unique and beautiful places in the world.

I spent the summer teaching English as a volunteer in a primary school in Salinas, Ecuador, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Two other friends and I were looking to spend the summer in a Latin American country, and ELI did a great job of locating a place that fit our requirements and allowed all three of us to volunteer together. They were great about promptly answering any questions or concerns that we had before leaving, and have continued to be very helpful when I have asked for references from an ELI staff person after returning home from the program. I had a great time in Ecuador, made a lot of friends, and absolutely loved the town that we were placed in. Based on my experience, I would highly reccommend ELI to anyone who is looking to volunteer/intern abroad!

I went to Ecuador with eliabroad last year and it was the best! My host mom Mercedes was so nice and really made everyone staying at the house feel comfortable (there were 2 other girls at the same time as me). She didn't speak any English, so we had to use Spanish all the time. The Ecuador coordinator helped with everything, especially on the first night when my bag didn't make it. WE got the bag on the next day, so it wasn't a big deal to lose my luggage. I worked at the Remar orphanage and the kids were so cute and so fun! It was so hard to say goodbye after a month. Before I left, everyone in the eliabroad office was really helpful and had a lot of information and patience for my questions. I really hope I can go back to Ecuador someday.

I felt comforted when I saw the sign, "Ms. Janice" when I passed all of the necessary procedures at the Quito airport. A pleasant man was holding up the sign; I assumed he was the the director of the program (I am staying with her family). He kindly greeted me and offered to take my maletas (suitcases). My host family in Ecuador treated me with kindness, as if I were their own daughter. The apartment I stayed in with the family was quaint and well-kept.
I volunteered at an orphanage Maria Campi de Yoder. There, I found children with a variety of needs, physical, emotional, and mental. The staff members inspired me with their selfless attitudes and genuine concern for the children. My role was a helper for the teachers, including helping control behavior, mentoring, teaching, and feeding. I took the opportunity to use my knowledge in speech and language (I am a speech language pathologist) by providing occasional lessons. However, my favorite part about working there was being there to comfort the children, playing with them on the playground, and interacting with each one. The staff members were very flexible with regard to what roles I played in the site; they were all appreciative. For instance, since I wanted to be involved in a variety of situations, they allowed me to work with both the preschool aged children and older children. My experience working in Quito was overall positive, and a tremendous learning experience. I felt safe and taken care of in both the home of my host family and the center in which I worked.